2017 Kia Sportage video road test – The Car Connection

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Kia has actually earned very a name for itself along with its Soul compact hatchback, Optima mid-dimension sedan, and Sorento crossover; yet one need to not forget the Sportage compact crossover.

With the 2011 update, the Sportage traded off-roader looks for a lot more sophisticated crossover styling along with tips of European hot hatch. Now it’s time for an update, yet do eye-catching styling, loads of tech, and brand-new refinement make it class-leading?

Design-wise, we’d call the Sportage flamboyant, yet not as well much over the top. If there is any type of controversy to the look, it’s up front where the headlamps impart a somewhat kitschy sci-fi feel. You have actually to provide it credit for being bold. The general stance is sportier thanks to a squatter, a lot more substantial look along with the wheels pushed farther to the corners.

Inside the brand-new Sportage features a lot more soft-touch surfaces, much better trims, and a layout that’s somewhat sporty and cockpit-oriented, along with the focus stack canted slightly toward the driver.

When it involves electricity there’s an alternative of 2 powertrains: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder along with 181 horsepower, or, for those looking for a lot more oomph, there’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder along with 240 horsepower. The two engines are paired to a 6-rate automatic transmission and send electricity to the front wheels in the standard configuration. All-wheel drive is an alternative on every Sportage trim level.

One of the brand-new Sportage’s not-so-pleasant surprises is fuel economy. Ratings are as higher as 23 miles per gallon city and 30 miles per gallon highway. While those numbers aren’t horrible, they trail many competitors by 1-3 mpg.

Behind the wheel, we discover the turbo version to be solid and smooth, though we’ve suffered some transmission “hunting” As soon as driving up much longer grades. Kia guaranteed much better steering and a a lot more refined ride along with the current Sportage, and for the many part, it delivers. The sporty SX Turbo model handles responsively, and along with great physique control. Kia’s taken a sportier road along with this Sporage compared to competitors love the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, and that’s not a inadequate thing.

While the Sportage remains Among the smallest models in its class, it has actually grown slightly. It’s 1.6 inches much longer compared to before, along with a wheelbase that’s gained 1.2 inches. That additional length translates to slightly a lot more head space and knee space in the cabin, especially in the backseat. Cargo room is now up to 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row. The liftover height is lower, too.

The IIHS named the Sportage a leading Safety Pick+ and gave it a superior rating for collapse avoidance and mitigation. Offered safety tech involves front collision warning along with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, front and rear parking assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

Priced from merely under $23,000, the Sportage comes standard along with electricity features, air conditioning along with rear vents, keyless entry, Bluetooth, a touchscreen audio system along with satellite radio, and a rearview camera.

Options consist of an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen along with a navigation system, a 320-watt Harmon Kardon audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights and taillights, bi-xenon headlamps, and a 4.2-inch LCD display in the gauge cluster.

So what’s the bottom line along with the 2017 Kia Sportage? It’s beefed up its sport-shoe styling, and its hardware, as it tackles the crossover-SUV niche head-on.